I don’t consider myself an exceptional cook or an expert in nutrition, but having my daughter come up with a name for my food – MumDonald’s, and to see my three kids (& husband) appreciating my twist to “healthify” most recipes definitely keeps me motivated. I try to teach my kids that eating healthy is not boring, and it should never feel restricting. It means we eat everything we want while trying to use good quality ingredients that are as close to nature as possible. And when we don’t, it’s totally ok.

The term “healthy” can mean different things to different people. There is no right or wrong, and what works for one person may not work for another. We are all different after all. When you eat healthy, you feel good, so you need to find what works for you instead of just following the latest diet trend. Eating healthy isn’t complicated, and it shouldn’t’ be overwhelming. You don’t need to throw away everything unhealthy in your kitchen and start from scratch using only whole organic produce. Incorporating small consistent changes into your existing routine is likely to be more effective than an immediate radical transformation. Like everything else in life, it is all about creating a healthy balance that works for you, one that is easily sustainable without making you feel deprived. It is a lifestyle, not a diet. A lifestyle that should make you feel good.

In our house, one of the things we try to do is “crowding out” -this just means adding in more nutritious foods so you have less space for the not so nutritious stuff. When we feel like something sweet, we try to satisfy our sugar cravings using natural sources (maple syrup, dates, fruits, homemade cakes) so that we don’t resort to sugary processed foods all the time. That being said, we do still have the real McDonalds, marshmallows, M&Ms, fries or whatever else our hearts desire, we just have them in moderation.

What is a small yet consistent step that you can take today to “healthify” your lifestyle a little more?